Ann Arbor officials want to shift energy for urban park idea to 415 W. Washington
A view of the 415 W. Washington St. site from the roof of the nearby Ann Arbor YMCA building.
File photo
Ann Arbor officials say they're impressed with the amount of creative energy that some members of the community recently put into drafting proposals for an urban park downtown.
Mayor John Hieftje and others say they're hoping to shift some of that energy away from the Library Lot - located at 319 S. Fifth Ave. - to another site near downtown Ann Arbor.
A late addition to the Ann Arbor City Council's agenda for Monday night reveals city officials are taking a closer look at the city-owned property at 415 W. Washington.
Hieftje is one of the co-sponsors of a resolution calling for the "creation of an innovative process of community collaboration" to explore a "Greenway Park and Arts Center" at the site.
An appointed committee of city leaders recently decided the Library Lot isn't the place for an urban park, and they're looking at hotel and conference center proposals instead. But Hieftje and others still think a green space can be developed at 415 W. Washington, between Third and First streets in Ann Arbor's Old West Side Historic District.
"I've been inspired by the conversations around building a new park in the center of town, and I didn't want to let that go by the wayside," Hieftje said, adding the idea of a public park at 415 W. Washington has been discussed for a long time.
"In fact, this greenway was first mentioned 20 years ago in the master plan," Hieftje said. "We had a greenway task force a few years ago, and one of their recommendations was for an arts center and greenway anchor park at that site."
Groups like the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy and Friends of the Ann Arbor Greenway have been working to promote the creation of a greenway system with public parks along the historic alignment of the Allen Creek.
One of the hopes of those efforts is to see greenway anchor parks occupying three specific city-owned floodplain/floodway properties: the northeast corner of First and William streets, 415 W. Washington, and 721 N. Main. Other sites would be added to the greenway as they become available.
A request for proposals previously netted three ideas for use of the 415 W. Washington site, but attempts by the city to bring those ideas to fruition never materialized.
City Council Members Carsten Hohnke, D-5th Ward, and Margie Teall, D-4th Ward, have teamed with Hieftje in sponsoring the resolution to be discussed Monday night.
"Personally, I was really excited to see a lot of the energy for pretty creative proposals for the Library Lot," Hohnke said. "It looks to me like the review committee has set those aside. But I think this is another opportunity for another city-owned site that may be a little bit more conducive to tapping that creative energy. I would hope that people who have been interested in open space on the Library Lot want to pitch in and look at this, too"
The mayor and council members note in their resolution that the 415 W. Washington site is a short walk from Main Street and is across the street from the new YMCA. They say there is great potential for the site to be the anchor park of a new greenway that will someday join the existing Huron River Greenway.
The resolution calls for bringing together the creative energy of the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy and the Arts Alliance, along with other potential partners in the community.
The sponsors of the legislation say the lack of affordable space for studios, art display, and performance space in Ann Arbor forced some artists and musicians in the community to take their craft away from the city. Many local artists now call Ypsilanti home because of cheaper rent.
"Ann Arbor has long been considered a haven for the arts and hosts the largest art fair in the nation," the resolution reads, "and recent studies have confirmed that the arts annually contribute millions of dollars to the local economy and provide thousands of jobs in the greater Ann Arbor area."
Hieftje said he wouldn't mind seeing a sculpture park fill the open space at 415 W. Washington. An existing brick building on the site - with some money - could be restored and made available to artists and others in the community as a place for studios, gatherings, meetings and performances.
"We don't have $1 million we can throw at this project," Hieftje said, noting he's hopeful the same energy put into the push for an urban park on the Library Lot could be tapped to help seek grants and make the idea a reality at 415 W. Washington.
City officials say a large portion of the 415 W. Washington site lies within the floodway. It also is within the boundaries of the Downtown Development Authority.
Hieftje and others say they hope to tap the expertise and resources of the DDA, the Parks Advisory Commission, the Art in Public Places Commission, the Energy Commission, the Main Street Area Association, the Office of the County Water Resources Director and others willing to contribute.
The resolution asks that a progress report be delivered to the City Council at the first meeting in February 2011.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
a2grateful
Tue, Feb 2, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
Isn't this site a heavily contaminated brownfield redevelopment site?
The Picker
Tue, Feb 2, 2010 : 7:51 a.m.
28, The greenway would be an enhancement to their property, and would improve its chances for a sale. Maybe he can pay a portion of his back taxes with a donation of this needed greenway space. A smart city govt would not let this opportunity pass.
annarbor28
Mon, Feb 1, 2010 : 3:06 p.m.
@the picker: Beal has been trying to sell his business property on Felch, other business properties and his loft condo for awhile. It looks as if he wants to concentrate with his son Stewart on their Section 8 housing investments. There are also some property tax problems. There was recently an article on annarbor.com about his Ypsi property which burned down and their blocking a roadway. Their extension to block the road should be up soon. Has any progress been made yet on that? Any conclusions about the cause of the fire there?
Gill
Mon, Feb 1, 2010 : 1:49 p.m.
415 W Washington is primarily floodWAY. State law prohibits residential construction in the floodWAY. The Dahlmann Park Fund should be called the Dahlamnn No Competing Hotels Fund - that money is only available if it is blocking the construction of another hotel.
Awakened
Mon, Feb 1, 2010 : 11:34 a.m.
The building was used by the city for decades. Before new regulations oil and chemicals were dumped directly on the grounds. It will take considerable clean up before the DNR would approve other use. But if it is made a park then the park millage would be able to pay for it. After all we spent all the money on the Rog Mahal....
Patrick Haggood
Mon, Feb 1, 2010 : 1:09 a.m.
The building on Washington looks to me like the perfect place for a TechShop: http://techshop.ws/index.html
ArgoC
Sun, Jan 31, 2010 : 11:41 a.m.
Greenway yes. Parking yes. Housing for boomers yes. Housing for students yes. There's potential for a fantastic mixed-use plan. Let's see if Mr. Hieftje and friends put in 1/10 the work on this that they do on the hotel mess.
glacialerratic
Sun, Jan 31, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.
Toronto recently converted abandoned trolley repair barns into an art center/studios/park. Take a look at the Artscape Wychwood Barns Project to see an outstanding example of repurposing old industrial space: http://www.torontoartscape.on.ca/places-spaces/artscape-wychwood-barns
The Picker
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 6:42 p.m.
Thanks for the links Moose! It seems that the link from Miller Rd to Argo/Bluffs park could be completed be completed this Spring at very little cost. The city already owns the strip on the east side of Wildt St. 721 Main,and I'm sure Beal would cooperate along their stretch from Kingsley to Felch. What a concept, walking or riding your bike through town without auto traffic around you!
Marvin Face
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
To those who think W. Washington traffic is a problem, several things to note: There has never been a pedestrian/car accident in this area. The congestion in this area makes it safer for pedestrians as it slows down traffic and makes drivers watch more closely. I remember hearing that the Y stayed downtown so it wouldn't have to provide parking for EVERYONE. Many people can walk or bike. Have you ever seen those bike racks even on the coldest days? How exactly would a park in this area add to the parking congestion? Are you suggesting that people would drive to this park? Seriously? I like the idea of a park here but not for the entire site. It should have a mixed use component as well.
John Floyd
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
Development of the library lot/old Y site and the 415 W Washington site are unrelated issues. Whether or not raising the 415 site right now is a cynical tactic, the middle of the Library Lot process is the wrong time to start discussion on use of a different city parcel half a mile away. If the library lot process were put on ice pending a re-examination of planning for downtown that actually included people who were not already in agreement with the city hall agenda, it would make sense to include 415 Washington in a comprehensive re-examination Otherwise, it is the wrong time to take this topic up. Back at the real story, the city expects to pay to build and operate the convention center, and hold the debt-service bag for the hotel, because the project is a dog and a loser. How is it we have $$ to build and subsidize a convention center, then plead poverty as an excuse to reject an offer of at least @2.5 million for space to make downtown more livable by the tens of thousands of new downtown residents the city wants to attract. Re: the homeless in downtown Ann Arbor, welcome to the life of density. The center of urban areas is where people with severe mental illness, addictions, and other kinds of misfortune end up, because dense areas are attractive to people living a hunter/gatherer existence. As you increase the number of potential panhandling targets, expect to see more of the phenomenon of American urban life (congestion, noise, soulless anonymity, etc.). As you add more bodies to downtown (especially non-family bodies), it is unrealistic to think that you will end up with a Disneyworld experience. All the ills of dense, American high-rise urban living will come along for the ride. There is an irony: only an oasis or two of open space will make greater density livable, yet the density itself will create problems that make the oases undesirable places for many people, making cenral Ann Arbor a less desirable place to live. Time to go back to the drawing board. The library lot, and the dealings surrounding it, are the current topic. 415 W Washington is a separate topic, and unless we are going to have a comprehensive, genuinely open re-examination of all public land in central Ann Arbor, 415 should be shelved for now.
SallyDay
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:53 p.m.
Forgot to mention another tie-up: Y members' cars lined up--in the midst of the parallel parking blocks and the people running across the street and cars pushing through both ways--waiting to get into the Y parking spaces.
leaguebus
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:51 p.m.
What oldgaffer said! The parking situation on West Washington is a mess and dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists who have to use that street. I am sure the residents of the street are upset also. They have no access to on street parking during the hours the the Y is open. My solution is to ban parking on west washington to anyone but residents. Then the city should sit down with the Y and rectify the lack of off street parking. Drive down west washington between 5:30PM and 6:30PM any week day. West Washington (the whole street in front of the Y is a parking lot). These issues must be addressed before anything else happens to the old city property. The Y site should never have been built assuming that most users would park on the side streets in that neighborhood. Fix that before anymore talk about Parks etc.
msddjohston
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:32 p.m.
January 30, 2010 Hello My Friend, Please keep the Downtown Park concept at the library. As one patron has suggested it will be the Crown Jewel of Downtown. Thank you. Further, please know that I would like to iceskate there someday. With regard to the Washington Property across the street from the YMCA. It would be my suggestion that this land be leased to the YMCA for building additions to the Y's facility. The place is packed, and we need more room for people, not cars. Our automobiles will downsize over the immediate comming years (See the Smart Car's parked downtown on Main Street today!!) Smart parks (green) next to the Y Building, and Additions, and Alternation with Smart parks across the street. Thank you! Your friend Dawn msddjohnston@hotmail.com
Basic Bob
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:28 p.m.
@Pete Warburton, It is a bad idea for parents to drop off their kids anywhere downtown and leave them unattended. The relatively large number of registered offenders at Delonis really is irrelevant, as it only takes one sick individual who may or may not have a record. What is to prevent the 'offender' you fear from hanging out inside the Y, rather than across the street in a park?
SallyDay
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:28 p.m.
Have any of you actually watched what happens in front of 415 W. Washington on a daily basis? It's a traffic nightmare, especially during after-school hours. Y visitors are scrapping for the few spaces on the street, which involves parallel parking, which blocks traffic. Folks--many of them kids and many unaccompanied by adults--are running across the street, dodging the blocks and the cars that are still trying to drive both ways down the street. Will it take some child being run over before the actual needs of the area are taken into account?
NoPlaceLikeHome
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:23 p.m.
I live very near the YMCA and if this goes through, I hope someone solves the parking problem... It's atrocious and annoying enough to Washington street residents as is.
townie
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:14 p.m.
annarbor.com: Please provide more information about the City's RFP for this site. I seem to recall that the RFP stipulated a greenway segment, as well as art space. Several proposals were received that included mixed-uses, with the majority use being apartments or condos, which would have provided "eyes on the park." The City passed on all proposals. Why? Now they are presenting the park and art aspects of that RFP as if they're some great new idea that'll make everyone happy vis a vis the libray lot. Are they expecting Dahlmann to bail them out after they slapped him in the face twice, first with the discovery they'd secretly met with a hotel developer for 18 months, then, tossed out Dahlmann's $2.5 million park gift without any legitimate consideration or economic analysis? I'm not buying a ticket to this political theater. I agree that a park in this location along the railroad tracks will not be successful without "eyes on the park" that would've been provided by some type of residential element. If Council is serious about this, then they should take the Percent for Art money, cancel the urinal, and put our money where there mouths are.
pragmatic
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:02 p.m.
Great idea! An Art Studio/Urban Park is an excellent idea for this Washington St. site, but as other commenters have clearly pointed out, this is not a downtown park. I wish the City Council would reconsider the park proposal for the library lot. In a few years, this park will be regarded as the jewel of downtown.
Moose
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 11:51 a.m.
By electing Hieftje and his crew on council the public certainly "approved" of the millions spent (on the taxpayers credit card) on the new city hall and a new underground parking structure. The cost of these adventures far outweigh the costs of developing open space whether it's a town square on the Library Lot or three sites connected by a non motorized pathway that follows the Allen Creek.
xmo
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 11:50 a.m.
We should be building stores, offices or lofts there so more people can enjoy Ann arbor. Animals do not spend money or pay taxes.
PersonX
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 11:40 a.m.
This is definitely a diversion, but it is all whistling in the dark. There are too many people in power in AA who are too close to developers. This will go in circles, but the two projects that everyone is focusing on have no chance in the long run, as the city simply has no money for them and no matter what individuals may say, the public will not allow such spending.
Pete Warburton
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 11:02 a.m.
At any given time,many of the registered sex offenders in the 48103 zip code list the Delonis Center as their address.A new park next to the "Y" where kids wait for their parents to pick them up? Think about it?
hweingarten
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.
This diversionary tactic subverts the letter and the spirit of the library public space proposal. If the 415 W. Wahington space is available, why not put the conference center there if it such an 'ideal' place for gathering. The Mayor and the Council demonstrate that there is such a thing as alchemy - unfortunately in this case turning gold into...
djm12652
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
I live right downtown and I can tell you that the street people and Delonis residents would love a nice green lawn to pass out on!
Eric P
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.
Joel said "perfect for mature professionals seeking an urban lifestyle", which I sound like well off baby boomers. There are already plenty of housing options for that set, many of whom already live in that area. What this town needs more is affordable housing for younger workers who make between the poverty line and the median income, work in the area but are hard pressed to find housing that fits their budget.
larry
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
this idea makes NO SENSE. typical politicians. The Liberty Lot is in the heart of downtown, and that's where we need a Public Square. not somewhere in the outskirts of downtown where virtually nobody goes.
The Picker
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.
As for condos on this site. Has it escaped the notice of the commenters that there is an abundance of unsold condos in the downtown area? I hardly think we need to throw gasoline on that fire!
bruno_uno
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.
west park is earmarked for stormwater design-construction this spring....please save our time and money and build condos at this location. ann arbor is a dying town.
Moose
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 9:24 a.m.
If you want to know about the Allen Creek Greenway go here http://www.acgreenwayconservancy.org/ and here http://www.acgreenwayconservancy.org/helicopter-tour and here http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/systems_planning/Environment/soe07/viableecosystems/Pages/AllenCreek.aspx And yes, the comments about this being a tactic of political distraction are right. Polticians need issues to not only distract but to divide. Don't fall for it. Making a decision of "either/or" is a false choice. Both sites offer distinctly different and unique opportunities for public use.
The Picker
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.
It would be helpful if A2.com added a map of the proposed greenway route with the pieces that are already city owned and ready for the non-motorized,connection paths of the plan. Many of these parcels are ready for these paths which require little money to complete and would build momentum toward its completion
crayzee
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 8:14 a.m.
I am totally with "nowayjose" comments. I challenge any actual urban planners out there to come up with a design for this park which will not become a campground for the homeless. West Park is vastly underutilized for this same reason. It's penned in by Miller Manor, Delonis, etc. It's not a family place. I second the ideas about a young-professional-oriented condo development, that would be an A1 location right across from the Y.
cia.traugott@gmail.com
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 7:48 a.m.
If the parking for the library is threatened by anything other than a greenspace on that lot I am certainly averse to structures being built on it.The Williams site certainly ca accomodate a conference center I belive.LT
Andy Piper
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 7:40 a.m.
Higher density downtown please! More housing.
oldgaffer
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 6:30 a.m.
Good idea for the building, but if the people come where will they park? One of the city's worst parking messes is around the Kiwanis/YMCA buildings, which are 50 to 60 parking spaces short. The city's bad planning led to that situation when the Y was built. Unless the city can now provide adequate parking I say forget it. The best option may be to tear down the old city building at 415 Washington and provide safe and accessible parking to the Kiwanis/YMCA users. The city's greedy search for a few quick bucks added to the Y's dire parking problem when the city recently installed parking meters along Washington Street which are now used almost entirely by meter feeders who spend hours exercising, thus hurting parents who want to drop off or pick up their kids-- and this presents a very dangerous traffic conflict for those kids.
clan
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 1:10 a.m.
It seems to me that this proposal may be the best way to start the development of the Allen Creek Greenway. It is worthy of serious consideration regardless of the decisions regarding the land next to the library.
Mick52
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 12:29 a.m.
I have to agree with the people who think this location is good for a park or green area. Its no way near as appropriate as the library area. Its too far west. I agree strongly with Thoutman, no city funding should to go any hotel/convention center. That is a road to disaster. I was surprised to read that this week. If a developer can't afford all costs, put the park in until someone can take responsibility for all of it. Its been a long time, but the Ann Arbor Inn struggled and was empty for years. Who can tell if a conference or convention center can be viable in A2? Too much of a risk for the city to get involved, especially when they say they have budget problems.
voiceofreason
Sat, Jan 30, 2010 : 12:23 a.m.
This is definitely an empty promise designed to divert the attention of the "Art!! Parks!!" crowd from the Library Lot site. However, as most people know, this particular group of people is easily manipulated. Therefore, this is probably a slam-dunk idea from the Mayor's standpoint.
Patricia Lesko
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 10:23 p.m.
This is not a compromise. This is a bait and switch. Note that Mayor Hieftje is quoted as saying "We don't have $1 million to throw at this project." This is called an unfunded project, and it's a blatnet attempt to draw attention away from the library lot. It is political window-dressing from three incumbents who are using the City Council's agenda to campaign for re-election. Citizens deserve well-thought out legislation, and to have Council time used for city business and not monkey business. Margie Teall's bridge is falling down. Mayor Hieftje's time is running out. Carsten Hohnke will grasp at hair-brained resolutions to get bullet points for his political resume. That Library Lot project is not a done deal. Hieftje, Teall and Hohnke are all afraid they may well be done deals, politically, in a few months. What we're seeing is lots of political singing, dancing and way too little respect for the art community, and the taxpayers whose land (the Library Lot) these three are desperately trying to give over to development without bothering with citizen input. This isn't a compromise; it's an empty political promise.
bg
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 9:52 p.m.
If those people responsible for those awful 'art' bike racks have anything to do with this potential park, then NO THANK YOU!
pooh bear
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 9:11 p.m.
The point about the library lot was that it was to be a gathering place for downtown. The idea of moving that to the west side is just a red herring and an attempt to change the subject. why can't the building at 415 be renovated for condos like the other factory was into Liberty lofts? Or made into an art center? This mayor is demolition crazy combined with an edifice complex.
thoutman
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 9:02 p.m.
It's not so much that I want a park. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a park at the 4th st location. It's a matter of NOT wanting one cent of public funds to go toward a Hotel/Convention Center in a market that is already under utilized. Next thing you know we'll have a hotel that no townie stays in, a bond due that the city is having trouble paying, and more talk of a city income tax. Give me a break!
logo
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 8:51 p.m.
Actually Moose, that is not true. State statute and court rulings say the art has to be tied fairly tightly to the source of the funding. For instance, most of the funding for the water sculpture at the police and courts building came from the sewer and water fund where big projects generate many $$. Some of the utilities departments offices are going to be there so the tie in was made. It has to be a specific installation rather an "art incubator." If your theory is correct and they can spend the arts money on an "incubator", they could. There is still quite a bit in the fund and more to come next year. So I guess they weren't "short sighted" after all.
Moose
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 8:37 p.m.
The only reason that the AAPAC money could not have been spent for something like an arts incubator is because the empowering language for the committee was not written to include such an option. This is yet another example of bureaucratic short sightedness that could have been avoided and still contribute to broader opinion and maybe better ideas by including more public input and commission appointees who are not beholden or limited in their scope of ideas, to those of their political masters.
logo
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 8:22 p.m.
GO GREENWAY! This is brilliant. This site is the central anchor of the whole Allen Creek Greenway. It was the center of a movement a few years ago. Since then the mayor and Hohnke are the only members of council who have been keeping the Allen Creek Greenway alive. They had another resolution last summer getting money for a cleanup at the W. William site. Most of this site is in the floodway, so it can't be residential and no moose, the arts money can't be spent on something like this, there are tight restrictions, but it could be spent to put sculptures in the park. As for daylighting the creek, the Drain Commissioner who controls Allen Creek has ruled it out. The A2 RR is notoriously difficult. As a backer of the Allen Creek Greenway let me say, this is the direction the city should be going.
Moose
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 7:41 p.m.
I could have had a V8! Imagine what could have been done to help fund an arts incubator like the old Tech Center at 415 W Washington with the million dollars from the Percent for Art program, that the elitist and rooted in the past, creative thinkers of the AAPAC, that want to spend for a prosaic fountain in front of a government building. (Drieselt, new city hall, get it?) Instead of just talk, there would have been a real (money) effort at building a viable arts center for the innovative, creative crowd that we always talking of attracting. There would be real money at laying a foundation. The real beginning of "community"!
Joel
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 7:39 p.m.
Condos! Condos would be ideally suited for this parcel! The proximity to the Y and downtown would make it perfect for mature professionals seeking an urban lifestyle.
bruno_uno
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 7:22 p.m.
zollar- your right on...west park is the anchor
Moose
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 7 p.m.
If Hieftje, and the rest of council, are serious about the Allen Creek Greenway then he should show some real leadership and work to find a way to get the Ann Arbor Railroad and property owners along the proposed Greenway route on the same page. He should come out and publicly voice not only his support for the Allen Creek Greenway, but work to build consensus and physical realization of his support. At this point in time, he has not done so. The proposed Greenway and potential daylighting of the Allen Creek offer a more unique opportunity for both public use to which Hieftje refers and it offers the potential for increased residential development that will not be ugly high rises in downtown. The Library Lot offers more of a public square with mass transit, other public buildings and business districts in close proximity. It offers a better chance for permanent full time residential high rise construction (as opposed to a hotel or conference center) is a better fit for downtown. Greenway residential development is possible with daylighting and deepening of the Allen Creek. This has the potential for reducing the floodplain acreage and increasing the potential for low rise residential at limited locations along the Greenway from downtown to the Huron. YET, it's really a false choice to be made to choose between the two as it appears that what's happening politically with these proposals seeming pitted against each other. Both sites offer different qualities and challenges and would offer potential for different types of public use.
Grumpy
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 6:30 p.m.
This is BS intended to distract town square advocates until they can complete the infill of downtown with concrete, pavement, and brick. This will never happen. 20 YEARS they've been talking about this. A futile attempt at three previous proposals were rejected, swept under the rug, and forgotten. What makes them think those that are anti park in the center of town, where residents of each ward and visitors would benefit, would be in favor of building a new park for the 5th ward 2 blocks away from the HUGE West Park? The era of building new parks is OVER. All anyone cares about here is generating greenbacks rather than paying a guy to cut the grass for six months out of the year. This is a total pipe dream that will never happen. And I have ZERO faith in our leadership given the shady process that took place for Library Lot.
nowayjose
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 5:56 p.m.
Im sure it'll make a great annex to the Delonis Shelter.
Lokalisierung
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 5:53 p.m.
Agree with V...I like this idea. Let's get over the large central downtown "we want to act like it's New York except we never want the population to increase" park idea.
zollar
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 5:45 p.m.
If you look at the map there is a very large (urban) park 2 blocks away.
KGS
Fri, Jan 29, 2010 : 5:29 p.m.
This is *not* downtown! give us a green space in the downtown, please, not yet another park for the Old West Side which has so many already.